I have a couple of reasons why I think reading comics and graphic novels is a good way for student to learn how to read. It may also help students who are too lazy to read or find a book full of text to intimidating.

The first reason is the obvious picture and text amalgamation. For students learning to read, the pictures help the student identify what is happening and match it to the text. “For kids who may be struggling and for kids who may be new to the English language, that visual sequence is a very powerful tool,” said Michael Bitz, the founder of the Comic Book Project, a program which uses art to promote literacy. There are 860 schools across the United States currently in the Comic Book Project, which proves it is effective, or else it wouldn’t have expanded in their 6 year history.

Another way comics and graphic novels help students are by giving them something easier to read. For example, students who find books crammed with text difficult, boring or are intimidated by the number of words could read graphic novels. They make reading more fun with the pictures, and easier and less intimidating with fewer words. The students would be filling their heads with words and also enjoying the reading at the same time. “The one thing that retained my son’s interest night after night was the comics,” a writer said. “Whatever that light bulb is went on.” This can develop a student’s base vocabulary and help them rise to a higher level. Of course a student will eventually have to make the adjustment of switching to a book with no illustrations.

Comics and graphic novels can also help with writing. For students who find it hard to come up with a story and a description, making some comics would be a good start. Then they could transfer what is being told through the art into text and eventually a story.

Comics and graphics novels can help a lot with reading and writing with students. The only issue is that it will not help students over a certain age and students who already know the vocabulary well. So altogether, I think comics and graphic novels can be a great help to students who need it.

Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/26/education/26comics.html?_r=1

http://www.comicbookproject.org/